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SIMPLE LEGUME DRAWS GUESTS TO WOOD RIVER VALLEY CHURCH A fter the worship service at Wood River Valley Church in ed and engaged the guests in a discussion on the selection and preparation of healthy foods. While the kitchen crew The Wood River Valley Church team will soon be following up with those who attended Hummus 101 More online at glnr.in/115-04-id_legume

Hailey on Feb. 1, head elder was putting together plates to begin planning the next

John Hall visited with Idaho with samples of the recipes, cooking class, which might newcomer Sirouj “Chef K” questions and answers, as well use an online format given the

Khachatourian, a Le Cordon as ideas for future classes, concurrent COVID-19 concerns.

Bleu graduate, about the postinued between Chef K and From a little legume, extraorsibility of offering a cooking the enthusiastic brunch group. dinary things could continue class for the community. A few Many took careful notes on to unfold. weeks later, a capacity crowd the back of the recipe cards of mostly first-time visitors arrived for a free class and Chef K studied at Le Cordon Bleu. and handouts that included Blue Zones dietary guidelines, Stephen McCandless, Wood River Valley Church pastor brunch, and they requested nutritional benefits of the more classes be organized, for both recipes. beverages provided and a map which they would be happy to “Hummus 101” became identifying the five Blue Zones pay a fee. the title of the event. Hall’s around the globe.

“The concept of combinphone began to ring as enthuThis was a ing a class and a full meal was siastic people reserved a spot lay led, planned like inviting people to a dinner for the class, which was limited and staffed event. and a show. This is an outto 40 because of the size of the When pastors standing way for us to connect fellowship room. A waiting list are willing to with and witness to a wide had to be created. empower, supvariety of people in our resort Four weeks later, as Hall port and unleash community,” Khachatourian greeted the people from all the talents of reflected. over the area and from as far our members,

Khachatourian decided away as California. Most of God can make to focus on a couple of recipes the visitors had never been to amazing things using nutrient-rich garbanzos an Adventist church. Some happen. (aka chickpeas), a staple in the admitted going online to learn diet of his Armenian heritage. Chef K would demonstrate something about the Adventist Church. A few were delighted A flyer shared with the making a basic hummus as well as a spiced garbanzo dish, educating the guests about the to learn Adventists are associated with the Blue Zone study and promote good health and community showcased the world’s Blue Zones. benefits of plant-based diets vegetarianism. and unprocessed foods per the Chef K mixed ingredients

National Geographic Blue in the Cuisinart and fired up

Zones study while he prepared his single burner as he educat

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BOISE VALLEY ADVENTIST SCHOOL FEATURES STEMCERTIFIED TEACHERS oise Valley Adventist School embarked on an adventure in the fall of 2018 to become to get the school STEMaccredited.” The process of certification involved contacting the project researching facts about a colony and creating a saltdough replica of that colony. In grades six through eight, B a STEM-accredited school. school accreditation association students designed a water park, The idea was born when to verify certification requirereplicated a 3D model of the Ken Utt joined the school team ments, attending a two-day Great Wall of China and creas principal. His goal was for workshop on project-based ated a 3D model of a cell. Utt the school to become the first learning, attending a two-day explains, “Through the imSTEM-accredited Adventist workshop on STEM educaplementation of these STEM/ school in the Northwest and tion, enrolling in a STEM PBL activities, students are not the third STEM-accredited school in the Boise Valley. training class, visiting a STEM-certified school, incorKindergarten students learn about balance and motion. only getting to participate in fun projects, but these projects “As STEM becomes more of porating STEM activities into are also preparing students an integral part of society, it the curriculum and applying still others labored to balance with 21st-century job skills, is apparent that it must also for a STEM-focused grant to taking the STEM class with such as collaboration, commubecome an integral part of our fund instructional materials. daily life. Melanie Lawson, nication, problem-solving and educational system,” Utt says. As teachers and staff BVAS kindergarden teacher, technology use.” “Therefore, it’s important that went through the certification notes the road has not been an “All staff at Boise Valley we get on board.” process, several noted struggles easy one, but it has certainly Adventist School are now Thus began planning along the way. For some, the been worth the time and effort STEM-certified,” Utt notes. toward STEM certification. concept of project-based learnto advance the school and “We are treading new waters Utt explains, “My goal is first ing was overwhelming. Others educational system. and providing a learning to get the teachers STEM-cerbattled to carve out a block of As a result of the ceropportunity that can’t be protified and then begin working time in their daily lessons. And tification process thus far, vided through any other eduteachers are becoming more cational avenue. It’s exciting to comfortable with the concept be part of a forward-thinking of STEM and incorporating educational system where activities into their curriculum. students can develop skills to In the kindergarten class stuthrive in their academic careers dents are learning to code with and future endeavors. Next a codable robot and learning stop: STEM accreditation.” about force and motion by designing spinner tops. In the Melanie Lawson, Boise Valley first and second grade class, Adventist School head teacher students learned to research facts about their state and create a topographical map. As part of project-based learning, grades six through eight design a bridge. In third through fifth grades, students did a similar More photos online at glnr.in/115-04-id_bvas